Author Event Booking

1. Budget and Compensation

An author's time, energy, and industry expertise are highly valuable. Providing a speaker's honorarium is standard practice and demonstrates that your organization is invested in the visit.

• Variable Rates: Speaking fees fluctuate based on the format (virtual vs. in-person), the number of required presentations, and the author's career stage. Debut authors often offer lower rates to build their speaking portfolios, while established veterans may have a set sliding scale.
• Travel Expenses: If you are bringing a creator in from out of town, please remember that flights, mileage, and lodging must be covered in addition to their standard honorarium. If your budget is tight, we highly recommend looking into authors who are local to your area!

2. Defining the Event Format

Clear expectations lead to a fantastic experience for both the speaker and the audience. Before reaching out, pinpoint exactly what type of engagement will work best for your group:

• Are you looking for an intimate, hands-on writing workshop or a large-scale presentation for a packed auditorium?
• Do you prefer a structured keynote speech or a casual, conversational Q&A?
• What is the age group and reading level of the attendees?
• What audio/visual equipment (microphones, projectors, screens) will you have set up and ready to go?

3. Scheduling and Preparation

Authors' calendars can fill up rapidly, often booking out several months in advance. Reaching out early is the best way to secure your preferred date, especially if your school or library has an inflexible schedule.

Once a date is locked in, use the lead-up time to build excitement! Familiarize your staff and students with the author's work, and if the event is open to the public, begin mapping out your community marketing strategy early.

4. Managing Book Sales

Having books available for attendees to purchase and get signed makes an author visit truly memorable, though coordinating those sales takes a bit of planning.

• Direct from the Publisher: We want to make it as easy as possible to get our stories into readers' hands. You can purchase event copies directly from Emberwick Press at a generous institutional discount. Please contact us directly for bulk event rates.
• Local Partnerships: Partnering with a local independent bookstore is a fantastic, stress-free alternative. The bookstore can handle the inventory, sales, and logistics while you support the local economy. You can easily locate the nearest indie bookstore in your community via Bookshop.org.